Presidential adviser was "deceived"

BELGRADE "Oliver Antic has shown responsibility by leaving the SNS, he made a mistake, not out of malice, but was deceived," claims Stanislava Pak Stankovic. Both her and Antic are advisers to President Tomislav Nikolic. Speaking for B92 on Thursday, Pak Stankovic added that a decision on whether Antic would "remain in the presidency" was up to Nikolic. Presidential adviser was "deceived" "He was deceived by (Croatian journalist) Domagoj Margetic. A conference was announced that would have the evidence for the Mobtel case, and it escalated into something completely different, and everything gained a completely different dimension," he said. According to this presidential adviser, the president "always protects anyone who has evidence of a criminal act," but noted that the Margetic news conference evolved to "a different escalation, which nobody expected" - as advisers of the deputy prime minister were accused - "but Antic did not announce the conference out of evil intentions." "To err is human. Now the decision depends entirely on President Nikolic," said Pak Stankovic. Commenting on a statement of SNS Vice President and cabinet minister Zorana Mihajlovic that Antic should leave the presidency, she said that "this is not decided by the minister, but by the president." Asked whether Antic acted alone, she confirmed that the president was aware that a press conference would be held, and pointed out that "every word that comes out of the presidency is agreed on with the president down to minute details." Stankovic Pak also rejected claims that the situation was "one of those that point to the differences between Tomislav Nikolic and Aleksandar Vucic." Stanislava Pak Stankovic (B92) B92

Presidential adviser was "deceived"

"He was deceived by (Croatian journalist) Domagoj Margetić. A conference was announced that would have the evidence for the Mobtel case, and it escalated into something completely different, and everything gained a completely different dimension," he said.

According to this presidential adviser, the president "always protects anyone who has evidence of a criminal act," but noted that the Margetić news conference evolved to "a different escalation, which nobody expected" - as advisers of the deputy prime minister were accused - "but Antić did not announce the conference out of evil intentions."

"To err is human. Now the decision depends entirely on President Nikolić," said Pak Stanković.

Commenting on a statement of SNS Vice President and cabinet minister Zorana Mihajlović that Antić should leave the presidency, she said that "this is not decided by the minister, but by the president."

Asked whether Antić acted alone, she confirmed that the president was aware that a press conference would be held, and pointed out that "every word that comes out of the presidency is agreed on with the president down to minute details."

Stanković Pak also rejected claims that the situation was "one of those that point to the differences between Tomislav Nikolić and Aleksandar Vučić."